My Fair Lady: Chapter 4

Kezia wandered through the royal courtyard.  She wasn’t quite sure where she was supposed to take the bridal. 

“Well, I never thought I’d see the day when you would enter the royal courtyard.” 

Kezia froze. 

The man walked in front of her.  “So what brings you here, Kezia?”  He asked. 

Kezia slowly lifted her eyes.  “Horse bridal.  I’m supposed to drop it off with Carter so if you could tell me where he is I’d be grateful.”  Kezia said. 

 “The same spunky girl I saw on the battle field.  You always were a determined little thing.”  He  studied her.  “I’ll take the bridal to Carter for you.”  He said reaching for the bridal. 

Kezia pulled it away from his reach.  “That won’t be necessary.  Besides, I need to pick up the payment for the work.” 

“I’ll deliver it to you.  Where is it that you work?”  He said grabbing hold of it. 

Kezia panicked.  “You know what?  I’m sure I’ll see Carter around some other time.  I’ll get the payment then.  He probably doesn’t have it on him anyway.”  Kezia said nervously.  She let go of the bridal, and started to walk away. 

“I’ll find you, Kezia.  I always have been able to in the past.” 

Kezia picked up her pace walking out of the courtyard as fast as she could.

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Kezia sat down in a chair.  Her heart raced.  “Idiot!  I should have had someone else deliver the bridal, or have Carter pick it up.  Now Quinn knows where I’m at.”  She banged her fist against the arm of the chair in frustration.  She rubbed her forehead.  She stood up and walked to the window. 

The light keeper’s daughter was lighting the lamps.  The light keeper had gone and joined up in the army so now she had the responsibility.  The girl looked about herself several times.  Then it occurred to Kezia.  She was scared. 

Kezia  went out to her. “I might not have an answer to my problem, but at least I can try to help her.”  She walked up behind her. “How are you and your family doing these days, Marla?”    

The girl jumped, and about dropped her light.  “Oh, Kezia it is you.  The family is doing well.”  She paused. She leaned closer.  “Any news on my father?”  She whispered. 

“He’s doing fine.”   Kezia whispered back.  “It’s been a bit colder than usual, hasn’t it?”  She said louder.  

She gestured for Marla to do the same.  “Oh?  Yes, indeed.  Very unusual.”  She said.  Marla lit another lamp. “We will be moving into the mountains by next week.”  She whispered. 

Kezia frowned.  “Who told you that?” 

“It was a note from Mr.  Hall.  He sure is nice ,isn’t he?”  She said. 

“I guess each to their own opinion.”  Kezia muttered. 

“You don’t like Mr. Hall?”  Marla asked lowering her lighting pole.

 Kezia sighed.  “He’s tolerable enough I suppose.” She kicked at a stone in the road. 

“Well, this is the end of my route.  Thanks for walking with me, Kezia.  I never liked walking in the dark by myself.”  Marla said.  She took off down the road towards her house.

Kezia walked slowly back to the stable, thinking.  She was startled out of her thoughts to see a tall black stallion tied up in front of the stable. 

It was Cole’s. 

Kezia panicked.  “What am I going to do?”  She thought frantically.  She turned around quickly and was about to break into a run. 

“Kezia.” 

She slowly turned around.  “Cole.  What are you doing here?”  Kezia messed with her hands.  Her whole body shook; it wasn’t from the cold wind around her either. 

“I brought your payment from Carter.”  Cole said walking out to her.  His brow furrowed. “What are you doing out at this time of night?”   

“Oh?  I was taking a walk.”  Kezia said. 

Cole’s brow deepened slightly more.  He handed her a pouch of money.  “I assume that this is the right amount.”    “Yes, this will do.”  Kezia said clasping the pouch.  “Thank you.  Goodnight, Cole.”  She walked towards the stable. 
 He caught her by the arm.  “I’ve missed you, Kezia.”  He whispered into her ear.  Kezia’s knees shook so hard she thought she was going to collapse. 
“We are too very different people, Cole.  It just wouldn’t work out.  You’re too much of a blackguard for me.”  Kezia said quietly. 

“You’re holding yourself back from what you know is true, and to being a blackguard, I had to do what was necessary in the war, Kezia.”  He released her arm.  “I’ll be around, Kezia.  I’m not going to let you go this time.”   Cole mounted his horse, and rode off.  Kezia walked into the stable, and collapsed into a chair.

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 Jack pulled the wagon in front of the stable.  He jumped off the wagon, and walked into the stable.  Kezia was inside sitting at a desk, writing.  “I’ve come for the order.”  He called. 

Kezia stood up quickly.  “Oh. The order is up in the loft.  I’ll go get it.” 

Jack frowned.  “Sorry to be a disappointment.” 

 “Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.  I was afraid it was someone else.”  Kezia said. 

“Who?  That Carter guy?  You mean to tell me you’re scared of him?”  Jack teased. 

Kezia shook her head.  “No, I’m not scared of him.  Just forget about it.”  She disappeared into the loft.  Moments later she returned with a bundle.  She handed it to Jack then went back up again.  Jack stuffed the bundle into the straw in the back of the wagon.  Kezia brought out a dozen or so more bundles.

 “You’ve been busy.”  He said packing the last bundle into the straw. 

“I try to be.”  Kezia said.  She went back to the desk. 

 “Something’s defiantly wrong.”  Jack thought.  He walked over beside Kezia.  “If that guy is bothering you, I can take care of it.”  He offered. 

“Jack, that isn’t a problem.  Now just forget about it, and take the bundles.”  Kezia said writing in a ledger. 

Jack started to walk away then turned around.  “What is wrong?”  He demanded. 

Kezia stood up.  “Nothing is wrong!”  She insisted. 
Then why are you acting all strange, like you’re scared?”  He asked.

 “The only problem is that you haven’t taken the load back to the castle.  Now go!”  She said.  Jack stood back offended. 

“I’m sorry.  I’m just a bit on edge from lack of sleep.  The preparation of war is stirring up some memories I’d rather forget.”  Kezia said rubbing her forehead.  Jack was silent.  He shook his head and muttered something under his breath as he left.

**********************

“I’m telling you, Turner.  Something has her scared.”  Jack said. 

“The war does have everyone on edge though, Jack.  Besides,  Kezia scared of war?  That’s hard to believe.”  Turner said leaning against the wall. 

“I just can’t put it aside, Turner.”  Jack said.  “Even though I dislike her very much.” He added.

Turner shrugged.  “She doesn’t seem to need any help, but perhaps we should move her into the castle.  Someone might start suspecting something if we are always stopping by with a wagon.”   Jack nodded his  head.  “

That’s what we’ll do.”  Jack said standing up.  “We’ll move her into the castle.”

******************

  “What do you mean you can’t?”  Jack asked, frowning. 

“I can’t.  If I just up and leave then there will be even more suspicion.  Trust me.”  Kezia said. 

“From who, Kezia?  People up and move all the time.”  Turner said. 

“It’s more complicated than that.  Look, I know you are trying to help, but it’s safer for all of us if I stay here.”  She said. 

“Why?”  Jack demanded. 

“For one thing, if I leave who’s going to keep an ear out to make sure that they haven’t found anything out?  And..”

 Jack cut her off.  “It’s because Carter, isn’t it?”  

 “No!  For the last time Jack, he is not the problem.” 

“Then what is if it isn’t him?”  Jack questioned. 

 Just then, Carter strode in. 

“Hey Kezia.  What are you doing tonight?”  He asked. 

Kezia walked up to him.  “Listen, Carter.  I’m not going to go out with you tonight or any other night, ok?  Only  come in here when you need some work done.”  Kezia said. 

“You’re joking.”  He said.  “Come on, Kezia…”  He said pulling her close to him by the arm.  Kezia squirmed out of his hold, and slammed her fist into his face.  Carter stumbled back, wide eyed.  “Alright, Alright!  I can see when I’m not wanted.”  Carter left the stable. 

 Kezia turned around, and faced the two men.  “He isn’t the problem.”  She said. 

“Then what is?”  Jack challenged. 

“Can’t you accept that there isn’t a problem?”  Kezia asked anxiously.  “Look, I’ll make you a deal.  I’ll come to the castle right before the beginning of the war, alright?  Until then I’m staying here.”   

“Then we can’t accept your work.”  Jack said. 

Kezia’s eyes widened.  “

It’s too risky for us to keep coming into town like this.  The only way is if you work at the castle’s blacksmithy.”   

 Kezia bit her lip. “But…”  She sighed.  “Then I cannot work for you then.” 

 “Alright, you were right.  Satisfied?  But we now know it isn’t Carter that is the problem.”  Turner said on the ride home. 

“I don’t get it.  I was so sure she would come with us when I told her she couldn’t work with us unless she was in the castle.”  Jack said shaking his head.  “Whatever it is, it must really have her scared to refuse to leave.” 

“Well…..”  Turner said.  He hesitated. 

“What?”  Jack growled. 

“You both don’t get along very well.  Perhaps she’s trying to avoid conflict, and maybe she doesn’t want to look like she needs your help.”   

“Why would she not want my help?”  Jack asked gruffly. 

“Would you want to ask her for help? You’re both stubborn.”  

“If she doesn’t want help, then I won’t be offering it again.”   Jack muttered.